2026-08-24
Amos 3:3 NKJV
It’s no secret that today, the majority of marriages fail because of financial issues. Other relationships can also be threatened when we fail to repay a personal loan or meet our financial expectations. The following three strategies will go a long way in mitigating these pitfalls:
(1) Discuss with your spouse the maximum amount each of you may spend without getting the other’s permission. Any amount above this limit will be considered “major” and will require complete agreement. Every couple defines a “major” purchase differently, depending on their household income, so stick to what has been agreed on. This is important. If you do not agree on a transaction, when the deal goes bad, the tendency is to point fingers.
(2) Advise your family that personal loans are against your “house policy.” Should you decide to make an exception to the policy, make sure your spouse is in complete agreement. If you are wise, you will put the terms and the due dates in writing.
(3) Don’t enable your child, spouse, or anyone else to remain irresponsible by bailing him or her out or always being their safety net. Just say no. By not saying no, you interrupt one of God’s most effective principles – sowing and reaping the consequences of individual behaviour. Real maturity occurs when this lesson is learned. Love must be tough! If you are an enabler, ask God right now to give you the strength to stop being so. For example, insist on that rent check from your still stay-at-home adult child. This demonstrates character-building love, which is genuine love. If you need to set financial boundaries, do it!
Soul food: 1 John 3:11-5:21; Mark 8:14-26; Ps 119:129-136; Pro 22:8-10
2026-08-23
Matthew 28:19-20 NKJV
The words Jesus spoke changed the world forever. These were the last instructions to His disciples: “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations… teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you” (vv. 18-20 NKJV). Jesus’ followers took this seriously: “Daily in the temple, and in every house, they did not cease teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ” (Acts 5:42 NKJV).
They remembered that they followed a man who taught everyone, and who commanded them to teach all peoples. So they did. They began to teach both men and women, both slaves and free. Some of the world’s greatest teaching institutions were founded by followers of Christ. Oxford and Cambridge Universities began in the thirteenth century. (The motto of Oxford University is from Psalm 27:1: “The Lord is my light.”)
George Marsden noted: “One of the remarkable facts about American history is that within six years of landing in Massachusetts wilderness, Puritans established what would soon become a reputable college.” These words are from a student handbook: “Let every student be plainly instructed and earnestly pressed to consider well, the main end of his life and studies is to know God and Jesus Christ, which is eternal life (John 17:3), and therefore to lay Christ… as the only foundation of all sound knowledge and learning.” That was Harvard University! And 92 percent of the first 138 colleges and universities founded in America were begun by followers of Christ. His words not only inform us; they also transform us.
Soul food: Exo 17:8-16; Ruth 2:12; Gal 3:27
Matteus 28:19-20 NLV
Die woorde wat Jesus gespreek het, het die wêreld vir altyd verander. Sy laaste instruksie aan sy dissipels was die volgende: ‘…God het die volle mag oor hemel en aarde aan My toevertrou. Gaan dan, maak al die nasies my dissipels… Leer hulle om alles te gehoorsaam wat Ek aan julle opgedra het…’ (verse 18-20 NLV). Jesus se volgelinge het dit ernstig opgeneem: ‘En elke dag het hulle aangehou om mense in die tempel en van huis tot huis te onderrig en die Goeie Nuus te preek dat Jesus die Messias is’ (Handelinge 5:42 NLV).
Hulle het onthou dat hulle ‘n man gevolg het wat almal geleer het en wat hulle beveel het om al die volke te leer. Hulle het begin om beide mans en vroue en beide slawe en vrymense, te leer. Van die wêreld se grootste onderwysinstellings is deur volgelinge van Christus gestig. Oxford en Cambridge Universiteite is in die dertiende eeu gestig. (Die leuse van Oxford Universiteit kom uit Psalm 27:1: ‘Die Here is my lig.’)
George Marsden het opgemerk: ‘Dis merkwaardig dat die Puriteine binne ses jaar nadat hul in die wildernis van Massachusett geland het, ‘n leerskool begin het wat kort daarna ‘n gerespekteerde kollege sou word.’ Hierdie woorde kom uit ‘n studentehandboek van daardie kollege: ‘Laat elke student duidelik onderrig en ernstig aangespoor word dat die hoofdoel van sy lewe en studies sal wees om God en Jesus Christus te ken, wat die ewige lewe is (sien Johannes 17:3), en om Christus as die enigste fondament van alle gesonde kennis en leer te beskou.’ Dit was Harvard Universiteit! 92 persent van die eerste 138 kolleges en universiteite wat in Amerika gestig is, is deur volgelinge van Christus begin. Sy woorde gee nie net kennis nie; dit transformeer ons ook.
Sielskos: Eks 17:8-16; Rut 2:12; Gal 3:27
2026-08-22
Proverbs 2:6 NCV
Here’s Paul’s prayer for the Ephesian church: “That… God… may give you the spirit of wisdom and revelation” (Ephesians 1:17 NKJV). For the Colossian church, he asked that God would fill them with “the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding” (Colossians 1:9 NKJV). James wrote: “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God… and it will be given to him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting” (James 1:5-6 NKJV). Godly wisdom also comes to us by Bible reading. This is why Paul, in his last letter before being beheaded for the gospel, wrote to his successor Timothy and said, “From childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation” (2 Timothy 3:15 NKJV).
How would you know that the wisdom you’re walking in comes from God? “God’s wisdom begins with a holy life… characterized by getting along with others. It is gentle and reasonable, overflowing with mercy and blessings, not hot one day and cold the next, not two-faced” (James 3:17 MSG). As young Solomon took the throne of Israel God asked him, “What shall I give you?” (1 Kings 3:5 NKJV). Solomon answered: “‘Give to Your servant an understanding heart.’… The speech pleased the Lord, that Solomon had asked this thing” (1 Kings 3:9-10 NKJV).
As a result, Solomon became known as one of the wisest men who ever lived, and he wrote three of the books of the Bible. And the God who gave him wisdom will give it to you too. All you have to do is pray for it and open your heart and mind to His Word.
Soul food: 1 John 1:1-3:10; Mark 8:1-13; Ps 119:121-128; Pro 22:4-7
Spreuke 2:6 NLV
Hier is Paulus se gebed vir die kerk in Efese: ‘…dat die God van ons Here Jesus Christus… aan julle geestelike wysheid en insig sal gee…’ (Efesiërs 1:17 NLV). Vir die kerk in Kolosse het hy gevra dat God ‘…geestelike wysheid en insig aan julle sal gee sodat julle heeltemal seker sal wees van wat Hy wil hê’ (Kolossense 1:9 NLV). Jakobus het geskryf: ‘Vra vir God as jy nie kan agterkom wat Hy wil hê jy moet doen nie. Hy sal jou eenvoudig daardie wysheid gee. Maar, as ‘n mens bid, moet jy die vertroue hê dat God sal antwoord…’ (Jakobus 1:5-6 NLV).
Hoe kan jy weet dat die wysheid waarin jy wandel, van God af kom? ‘Maar as ‘n mens leef soos God dit in sy wysheid bedoel het, sal jou lewe heeltemal anders lyk. Dit sal ‘n lewe wees waarop die sonde geen houvas het nie. So iemand sal in vrede met ander mense saamleef…’ (Jakobus 3:17 DB). Toe die jong Salomo die troon van Israel bestyg het, het God hom gevra: ‘…Wat wil jy hê?..’ (1 Konings 3:5 NLV). Salomo het geantwoord: “‘Gee my tog die vermoë om met verstandigheid en regverdigheid oor u volk te regeer…’ Die Here was tevrede met Salomo se antwoord…” (1 Konings 3:9-10 NLV).
Salomo het bekendheid as een van die wysste manne wat ooit geleef het, verwerf en hy het drie van die boeke in die Bybel geskryf. Die God wat vir hom wysheid gegee het, sal dit ook vir jou gee. Al wat jy hoef te doen is om daarvoor te bid en jou hart en verstand vir sy Woord oop te maak.
Sielskos: 1 Joh 1:1-3:10; Mark 8:1-13; Ps 119:121-128; Spr 22:4-7
